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Monday, October 28, 2013

Could Dusty Baker be the next bench coach for the Dodgers?

The likelihood that Dusty Baker will be managing a major league team next season is looking very slim at this point.

The former Reds skipper reportedly expressed interest in the Washington Nationals opening earlier this month, however, that feeling didn't turn out to be mutual, as the Nationals not only denied to grant the 64-year-old an interview, but have opted to go with Matt Williams, instead.

Among the other managerial openings, namely the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, and Seattle Mariners, Baker's name hasn't really been linked to any of them, which means if Baker wants to be coaching at all in 2014, he may have to settle for a less prestigious role.

This is where the Los Angeles Dodgers and their vacant bench coach position come into play. According to Bill Madden of the New York Daily News, Baker has not received any phone calls from teams seeking his managerial services, but that the Dodgers may be a good fit for the California native.
Baker, who has many ties to the West Coast, starred with Los Angeles as an outfielder from 1976 to 1983, and served as manager of the San Francisco Giants from 1993 to 2002. So, if the Dodgers are looking for a right-hand man to flank with manager Don Mattingly, hiring a guy with the knowledge and experience of Baker may not be the worst idea in the world.

Baker was fired earlier this month after his club was dispatched by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Wild Card game. He led the Reds to the postseason three times in six years at the helm.